Grassroots Organization Builds Pathways to Opportunity in North Greenwood

Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition of Pinellas County

What began as a grassroots response to persistent poverty in one of Pinellas County’s most underserved communities has evolved into an ambitious economic development initiative designed to create opportunity, foster entrepreneurship and revitalize a historic corridor.

The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, led by Executive Director Gloria Campbell and Director of Communications Marilyn Turman, is spearheading “The Village,” an innovative small-business incubator in the North Greenwood area. The project aims to support 10 to 12 small businesses and create up to 15 jobs in a neighborhood long impacted by disinvestment.

“We are a grassroots community organization focused on economic development,” Campbell said. “North Greenwood is the highest concentration of poverty in Pinellas County, and we wanted to create a vehicle to bring opportunity back to the community.”

The vision for The Village emerged after coalition leaders recognized that the area’s once-thriving commercial corridor had all but disappeared.

“As we looked down what was a commercial corridor… all the buildings are gone,” Campbell said. “There were no resources to put people into. So, this became a way to house new businesses and support existing ones.”

Since its inception nearly seven years ago, the coalition has worked to educate residents, build community support and develop a sustainable model for economic revitalization.

Central to the coalition’s progress has been its partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development, particularly business consultant Jenee Skipper.

“We have worked with Jenee Skipper in a number of ways,” Campbell said. “She has been such a resource helping us as we rolled out our business plan and put together our pitch for our development.”

From refining financial strategies to shaping tenant selection and operational planning, Skipper’s guidance helped transform the coalition’s concept into a viable, structured initiative.

“When we first approached this project, she looked at all aspects of our proposal, including financing and cash flow,” Campbell said. “She helped us figure out how we were going to make this successful.”

Turman echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the SBDC’s role in preparing future business owners for long-term success.

“She has been an amazing resource,” Turman said. “Once we gathered our potential tenants, she helped us develop a curriculum to prepare them. We want to make sure they don’t just have a grand opening and a grand closing.”

The training component is a key part of The Village’s strategy. Participants receive education on financial management, business planning, risk mitigation and other fundamentals critical to sustaining a business.

“You may be the best cook on the planet,” Turman said, “but you better know about financial statements, balance sheets and cash flow projections.”

Campbell added that Skipper’s proactive approach has helped keep the coalition on track.

“She doesn’t wait for us to call — she calls us,” Campbell said. “She keeps us on track and makes sure our businesses are getting what they need.”

The Village is designed to be more than just a collection of storefronts. Leaders envision it as a supportive ecosystem where small businesses can grow, collaborate and eventually expand beyond the incubator.

“The key is to build an ecosystem where businesses can thrive, not just survive,” Campbell said.

The project will initially house 11 businesses, some sharing space to reduce costs and encourage collaboration. In addition, the coalition plans to host pop-up opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs who are not yet ready for a permanent location.

“That gives them an opportunity to test their product and grow,” Campbell said. “When spaces open up, we’ll have businesses ready to move in.”

The coalition also ties training participation to future funding opportunities and offers reduced rents to ease the financial burden on entrepreneurs. These measures are intended to improve success rates and address the high failure rates typically associated with small businesses.

“Our goal is at least a 90 percent success rate,” Campbell said. “We’re putting the tools in place to make that happen.”

Since partnering with the Florida SBDC, the coalition has seen significant progress, moving from concept to near completion of the project.

“Our business has grown significantly,” Campbell said. “We’ve partnered with multiple entities, and we’ve gone from an idea to a business model to a project that will be coming out of the ground very shortly.”

Collaborations with organizations such as St. Petersburg College have helped validate the coalition’s market strategies, including tenant and product mix decisions. Support from the City of Clearwater and Pinellas County Economic Development has also provided essential funding and resources.

Among the coalition’s biggest achievements is securing land for the project and providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

“We’ve been able to give 11 businesses a home,” Campbell said. “That’s huge.”

For many in North Greenwood, The Village represents more than economic development — it symbolizes renewed hope and investment in a historically overlooked community.

As the project moves closer to completion, the coalition plans to continue leveraging SBDC resources for ongoing training, mentorship and funding opportunities.

“We know that as businesses hit roadblocks, we’ll have resources to help them navigate,” Campbell said. “And we’re looking at how this model could be replicated in other communities.”

Turman encouraged other entrepreneurs to take advantage of the SBDC’s offerings.

“They’re free services,” she said. “If you don’t take advantage of them, you’re missing out on great opportunities.”

Campbell offered a similar message.

“If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” she said. “These resources are there to help you grow your business — whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand.”

With The Village poised to open its doors, the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition is demonstrating how community-driven vision, combined with strategic partnerships, can create pathways to economic opportunity and long-term success.